Package elevator



Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to package elevators, such as used in stores, factories and like establishments, and more particularly to the class of apparatus which is electrically operated, and my present invention has for its object to provide an elevator which is efiicient in operation and easy to control.

Another important object of the invention is to render the action of the elevator mechanical and simple, electrical elements being for the most part used only for purposes of control.

A further object of the invention is to extend the control of the elevator to all the floors that it may be dispatched from or stopped at any floor or brought to a given floor by actuating a control thereat.

Another object of the invention is to employ as in my previous embodiment, controls of conventional and easily actuated design, whereby to make it a simple matter for a novice to learn the operation of the apparatus.

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus as applied to a 4-fioor installation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of a switch pusher illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig.- 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit involved in the apparatus.

Referring specifically to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates the respective floors or stations served by the carrier of the apparatus, these floors being denoted by the numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4. The carrier 13 is adapted for vertical travel along guide rods 13a, being suspended from a chain 14 which is'trained over guide sprockets 15 stationed above the top floor .to descend to a position below the first floor, where the chain is trained under a sprocket 16 laterally to a sprocket 17 to rise through the floor and be connected to the carrier 13. The motor 19 preferably connects with the sprocket 16 through a worm drive.

In the zone of the first floor is a unit of two toggle switches-40 and 62-placed abreast, the operating-arms 20 of which are jointly linked to the medial arm 21 01 a toggle lever 2'7, the latter being fulcrumed at 22 in a suitable stand 23. The terminal arms of the lever 27 are respectively in the path of cam enlargements 14a carried by the runs of the chain 14 .and so placed that the toggle lever will be rocked in one direction by one of the enlargementsas shown in Fig. lwhen the elevator is at the lower end of its course, and

in the other direction by the other enlargement .5 when the elevator is at the upper end of its course, throwing the twin switches and 62 in corresponding directions. I have chosen to extend the enlargements 14a upwardly in a straight course in order that an ample bar may be presented to either of the toggle travel arms 27 in the event that either enlargement descends lower than the proper position or in some manner passes the respective arm on the down travel. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the elongation of the enlargements in an upward direction locks the lever arms more definitely.

As mentioned, the toggle lever 27 is employed to reverse the motor 19, this being done automatically when the carrier reaches the top floor or the bottom floor. However, should it be desired to reverse the motor when the carrier is enroute, I have provided an extension of the toggle lever in the form of a connecting arm 55 which through a bell crank lever 56 duplicates the action of the toggle lever in a rocker arm 57. From this arm extend rods 58 in an upward direction through floors 2 and 3, these rods receiving cross levers 59 by linked connections 60, and the cross levers 59 being extended with handles 61. The rocker arm 57 and the cross levers 59 are medially pivoted at 57a and 59a, respectively, in the wall or in suitable supports, the arrangement being such that when'the levers 61 are down the effect of the toggle lever 27 is to operate the carrier on a down trip, and when the handles 61 are up vice versa. The showing illustrates but one method of securing a control of motor direction in the vicinity of the intermediate fioors, and it will be obvious that other means may be employed as an equiva- 40 lent of the mechanisms shown. Thus, the positions of the handles 61 will indicate to the attendants at intermediate floors what the traveling direction of the carrier happens to be.

As to the twin switches mentioned, the switch 40 is a 4-way toggle type, and the switch 62 is a 3-Way toggle type. The connections of these switches with the motor are obvious from the diagram, but the extension of these connections will be explained. The alternative poles 62a and 62b of the 3-way switch 62 areextended with parallel conductors 63 and 64 to pass up through all the floors with a 4-way toggle switch 65 interposed for each of the first, second and third floors, and a flnalB-way toggle switch 66 for the fourth or top floor. The 4-way switches are inserted in the parallel conductors to continue them in spaced or crossed relation, while the final switch 66 receives the conductors at the alternate poles for selective connection with the return line 45.

With the carrier in the position of Fig. 1, it may be assumed that the toggle lever 27 has caused a reversing action of the switch 40 and at the same time has broken the connection between the conductor 63 or the conductor 64 and the motor in the switch 62, so that whichever one of the conductors was being fed by the motor in a closed circuit, it has been severedinthe switch 62 and the connection made with the other one of the conductors, which=was in'an open circuit. Thus, the action of the switch 62 cuts ofi the motor, stopping-the'carrier. Should the attendant on the first floor desire thecarrier to rise, the toggle switch 65 is actuated. This action closes the. circuit in the disconnected conductor-63 or= 64-andsets the motor motion, so thatv the carrier-continues torise until it reaches thetop' iloor and-automatically stops. 5 Obviously, the ip'rovision of the second, third, and fourth flooriswitches is for securing the same action from-floors: other than the first. -However, the first three switches (65) are of the4-way type in order to provide for." the closing circuit both for' the :upand down travel ofthecarrier, while the' uppermost switch ('66) is only a three .way switch because' itinee'd'iprovide only for the down travelzofthecarrierfrom the top position.

order tocomplete the controlofi the carrier,

. it is: necessary that lit a'lsoi' automatically stop at floors-other than the first and; fourth. Thus, I have provided an arrangement which enables the carrierito be adjusted -by': the attendant at any floorxto' stop at :any other desired floor, it being understoodthat-thisarrangementis only invoked to 'stop' the carrier at intermediate floors because it will automaticallystop at the terminal floors, as' described. My intention is to locatea simple cutout-switch atevery intermediate floor, and so adjust the'carrierthat it will actuate a selected one" of those switches corresponding to the' floor at which thecarrier isdesire'd tostop.

The: controlling attachment for the carrier comprises mainly a' horizontally slidable pusher 67 journaled in a hanger 68 depending froma one side ofuthe carrier. The frontal endof the pusher carries :a -cam cross head' 69, and between this cross "head and the .1 :hangeri 68 5 a: collar 70iis slidable .on i the pusher, r this collar having a pawl17l pivotal ly'disposed-at 72 .and effectiveito engage'the side of thehanger 68- as indicated in Fig. 3. :Between the collar 70 and the cross head 69iis interposed ar springi73; and between the hanger: andarear abutment 74 of the pusher is interposed a coil spring 75. The pawl 71 is extended beyond the pivot with a handle 71a which is pressed -toward the pusher to release the pawl 71% from: the hanger '68. As shown in Figs. 2 and3 the cross head 69 is extended from the tcarrier by the locking effect: of the pawl '71 andiithexpressu re through the spring 73,- so that the cross headis inia projected position. "Should the crossi'head be desired to'have' a'retracted position, thepawl' 71 is released as described, causing the spring 75 to expand and draw upon thecross head. 'A simple push. button cuto'if switchisshown' at 76 inta fixture 77 'erected on each x of the .intermediate fioors. 76aof a2given switch. is directly in'the path of the projectedicrosssihead 69 .of the: carrier, 5 so.

The button that the passage of the carrier past such switch will cause its button to be pressed and the contact controlled by it to be severed. I have arranged in lateral order a number of cross head installations, corresponding to the number of intermediate floors and in duplicate so that a set of cross heads at one side may actuate corresponding switch buttons when the carrier travels up and a companion set at the other side will afiect corresponding switch buttons'whenrthe carrier travels-down. Thepositions of two such sets are indicated at the upper end of Fig. 5, and it will .Li-beznoted that by the dot-and-dash projection lines, the switches 76 are arranged to correspond. 'NOWfShOLlld it be desired to actuate a certain switch "on the up travel, the attendant having access to the carrier pulls out the particular cross *hea-d-and locks'itbythe pawl 71, all the remaining cross heads being in the inactive or retracted position. When the carrier has reached, the proper floor and i the :1 cross head :actuates ithe corresponding :switch .and 'stcpsithe carrier, the:.attendant atsuch floorxmay: easily unlock thercross head; if it. is desired that the. carrier Econtinuezto rise torthe last floor to which it mayhave'been' setcor 'all'the. way to the topffioor. ;-However, if the return or descent of the carriernis desired by the receiving attendant, the previousr' operation' of-drawing thetpropergphandle 61- in a.down-. ward direction will be necessary in order to: secure a reversal of the, motor.

vIt willithusbe seen thatrr-my apparatusiiurnishes a: complete :or-versatile control of-thercarrier," not by a complicated network of-wiring or multiplicity. of push Lbuttonsor: mechanisms, but, by a logical mechanical development of a simple electrical installation- ENo engineering values entering into thezapparatus, itbeingwithin the skilliof' theJaverage mechanic and electricianito build, connector service it.

Iclaim: f V i 1 1. 'A package elevator comprising a carrier, a motor-operatedmeansto procure the travel of the same through a course of fioors, a circuit for the motor, push-button switches serving as cut off means for said 'circuit and located attheintermediate floors-and along the path'of' the carrier, said switchesbeing at different -lateral locations for each fiooryand pusher camson' the carrier and correlated in lateral arrangement-to aline with selected-ones of said switches when the pusher projected'from the'c'arrierwhereby to actuate the corresponding push b'utton'sz and stopthecarrierat a desired intermediate floor.

x 2. The structure of claim 1, said switchesand pusher cams being in laterally spaced sets, one set being for the control on the ascent of the carrier and; the other on the descentthereof.

3. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor means for procuring the verticaltravel thereof, an electric circuit for the motor, apushbutton switch. in the motor circuit .and alongside the path of the carrier, said switch serving a cuteoff for the motor circuit, a horizontal pusher bar. journaled inthe. carrier and adjustablelat erally cf the travel-path. thereof, a camcross head carried by the pusher. bar. and. adapted. to move opposite the push button switch during the travel of the carrier, means .to-adjust-the pusher bar in a position to project the camzeross head to the position where it will actuate. the push button switch duringthe passage of the' same byi the carrier, and alocking device-car-t ried by ithe' pusher :bar. :and engageable; with r the carrier to lock the cam cross head in projected position.

4. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor means for procuring the vertical travel thereof, an electric circuit for the motor, a push button switch in the motor circuit and alongside the path of the carrier, said switch serving as a cut-off for the motor circuit, a horizontal pusher bar journaled in the carrier and adjustable laterally of the travel path thereof, a cam cross head carried by the pusher bar and adapted to move opposite the push button switch during the travel of the carrier, means to adjust the pusher bar in a position to project the cam cross head to the position where it will actuate the push button switch during the passage of the same by the carrier, a collar slidably mounted on the pusher bar, a pawl pivoted in the collar and engageable at one end with the carrier, a spring carried by the pusher bar between the collar and the cam cross head, and a handle extended from the pawl beyond the pivot whereby to disengage the pawl from the carrier by pressure and release the pusher bar for retraction.

5. The structure of claim 4, and a spring carried by the pusher bar on the opposite side of the carrier and effective to retract the pusher bar when the pawl has been released.

6. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor-operated means to procure the travel of the same through a course of floors, a circuit for the motor, cut-ofi push buttons for said circuit at the intermediate floors and along the course of the carrier, pusher cams on the latter adjustable selectively to engage predetermined ones of the push buttons at the time the carrier arrives at a corresponding floor whereby to stop the carrier thereat, locking devices holding the selected pusher cams in projected positions, said locking devices being releasable for the retraction of the pusher cams to inactive positions, and means for automatically retracting the pusher cams when the locking devices are released.

7. The structure of claim 6, said retracting means being yieldable.

8. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor-operated means to procure the travel of the same through a course of floors, a motor circuit, a 3-way switch connected with its neutral pole to one motor terminal, return leads from the selective terminals of the 3-way switch along the course of the elevator, a 4-way switch interposed in said leads at certain floors to close the motor circuit when the 3-way switch is at either position, an independent 4-way switch for reversing the motor, and means automatically actuating said independent switch when the elevator reaches the terminal floors.

9. The structure of claim 8, operating means for the 3-way and independent switch, and a connection between said operating means to operate these switches concurrently.

10. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor-operated means to procure the travel of the same through a course of floors, a motor circuit, reversing means in the latter for the field connections of the motor, switches cooperative with said reversing means to control the motor, actuators at each of the floors and effective on said switches, an actuator for the reversing means automatically effective when the carrier reaches the terminal floors, and manual controls at the intermediate floors efiective on said reversing means when the carrier is at intermediate positions in its travel.

11. A package elevator comprising a carrier, motor-operated means to procure the travel of the same through a course of floors, a motor circuit, reversing means in the latter for the field connections of the motor, switches cooperative with said reversing means to control the motor, actuators at each of the floors and effective on said switches, an actuator for the reversing means automatically efiective when the carrier reaches the terminal floors, and manual controls at the intermediate floors effective on said reversing means when the carrier is at intermediate positions in its travel, said manual controls having positions indicative of the direction of travel of the carrier.

JAMES L. BALDWIN. 

